Pelargonium plant named &#39;G12120&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of interspecific  Pelargonium  plant named ‘G12120’, characterized by its upright and uniformly mounding to trailing plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; green and white variegated leaves; light scarlet-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

BOTANICAL DESIGNATION

Pelargonium×hortorum X Pelargonium sp.

CULTIVAR DENOMINATION

‘G12120’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of interspecific Geranium plant, botanically known as Pelargonium×hortorum X Pelargonium sp., and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘G12120’.

The new interspecific Pelargonium plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Bellefonte, Pa. The objective of the breeding program is to create new vigorous interspecific Pelargonium plants with attractive leaf and flower coloration and good high light and high temperature tolerance.

The new interspecific Pelargonium plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Bellefonte, Pa. on Aug. 15, 2011 of Pelargonium×hortorum ‘Catalina’, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary seedling selection of Pelargonium sp. identified as code number 7875, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new interspecific Pelargonium plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Bellefonte, Pa. on May 15, 2012.

Asexual reproduction of the new interspecific Pelargonium plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Bellefonte, Pa. since Aug. 15, 2012, has shown that the unique features of this new interspecific Pelargonium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new interspecific Pelargonium have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘G12120’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘G12120’ as a new and distinct interspecific Pelargonium plant:

1. Upright and uniformly mounding to trailing plant habit.

2. Vigorous growth habit.

3. Freely branching habit.

4. Green and white variegated leaves.

5. Light scarlet-colored flowers.

6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new interspecific Pelargonium differ primarily from plants of the female parent, ‘Catalina’, in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new interspecific Pelargonium are more trailing than and not as upright as plants of ‘Catalina’.

2. Plants of the new interspecific Pelargonium are more freely branching than plants of ‘Catalina’.

3. Leaves of plants of the new interspecific Pelargonium are reniform to palmate in shape whereas leaves of plants of ‘Catalina’ are orbicular in shape.

4. Plants of the new interspecific Pelargonium have smaller flowers than plants of ‘Catalina’.

5. Plants of the new interspecific Pelargonium and ‘Catalina’ differ in flower color as plants of ‘Catalina’ have bright pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new interspecific Pelargonium differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new interspecific Pelargonium are more freely branching than plants of the male parent selection.

2. Plants of the new interspecific Pelargonium have thicker stems than plants of the male parent selection.

3. Leaves of plants of the new interspecific Pelargonium are variegated whereas leaves of plants of the male parent selection are not variegated (solid green in color).

4. Plants of the new interspecific Pelargonium have larger flowers than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new interspecific Pelargonium can be compared to plants of the Pelargonium×hortorum ‘Wilhelm Langguth’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Bellefonte, Pa., plants of the new interspecific Pelargonium differed from plants of ‘Wilhelm Langguth’ in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new interspecific Pelargonium were more compact than plants of ‘Wilhelm Langguth’.

2. Plants of the new interspecific Pelargonium were more mounding and trailing than and not as upright as plants of ‘Wilhelm Langguth’.

3. Plants of the new interspecific Pelargonium were more freely branching and denser than plants of ‘Wilhelm Langguth’ .

4. Leaves of plants of the new interspecific Pelargonium are reniform to palmate in shape whereas leaves of plants of ‘Wilhelm Langguth’ are orbicular in shape.

5. Plants of the new interspecific Pelargonium had smaller flowers than plants of ‘Wilhelm Langguth’.

6. Plants of the new interspecific Pelargonium and ‘Wilhelm Langguth’ differed in flower color as plants of ‘Wilhelm Langguth’ had dark scarlet-colored flowers.

Plants of the new interspecific Pelargonium can also be compared to plants of the Pelargonium×hortorum ‘Crystal Palace’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Bellefonte, Pa., plants of the new interspecific Pelargonium differed from plants of ‘Crystal Palace’ in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new interspecific Pelargonium were more compact than plants of ‘Crystal Palace’.

2. Plants of the new interspecific Pelargonium were more freely branching and denser than plants of ‘Crystal Palace’.

3. Leaves of plants of the new interspecific Pelargonium are reniform to palmate in shape whereas leaves of plants of ‘Crystal Palace’ are orbicular in shape.

4. Plants of the new interspecific Pelargonium and ‘Crystal Palace’ differed in leaf color as plants of ‘Crystal Palace’ have green and golden yellow variegated leaves.

5. Plants of the new interspecific Pelargonium and ‘Crystal Palace’ differed in flower color as plants of ‘Crystal Palace’ had dark scarlet-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new interspecific Pelargonium plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new interspecific Pelargonium plant. The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘G 12120’ grown in a container. The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plants of ‘G12120’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the early spring in 11.5-cm containers in a polycarbonate-covered greenhouse in Bellefonte, Pa. and under cultural practices which closely approximate commercial production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 16° C. to 24° C. and night temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 16° C. Plants were pinched one time and were 14 weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the detailed description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium×hortorum X Pelargonium sp.     ‘G12120’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Pelargonium×hortorum ‘Catalina’,             not patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of             Pelargonium sp. identified as code number 7875, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 10 to 14 days at             temperatures about 22° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 14 to 21 days at             temperatures about 22° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 56 days             at temperatures about 22° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 70 days             at temperatures about 22° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; white to tan             in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright and uniformly mounding to             trailing plant habit; densely foliated; vigorous growth             habit; freely basal branching habit with about six primary             lateral branches developing per plant.         -   Plant height, to top of umbels.—About 16 cm.         -   Plant height, to top of leaves.—About 8.8 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 18 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 5.7 cm. Diameter: About             5 mm. Internode length: About 6 mm. Strength: Strong.             Aspect: Upright to outwardly spreading; more trailing with             development. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 144C. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate and whorled; simple.         -   Length.—About 4.3 cm.         -   Width.—About 5.7 cm.         -   Shape.—Reniform to palmate.         -   Apex.—Rounded.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Margin.—Shallow palmate lobes with shallow crenations.         -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent, soft; rugose.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 143A;             towards the margins, close to 155A. Developing leaves, upper             surface: Close to 147B; towards the margins, close to             NN155B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to             N137B; towards the margins, close to 155C; venation, close             to 147B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to             N138C; towards the margins, close to 155C; venation, close             to 147C.         -   Zonation pattern.—Not discernible.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 6 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent; soft. Color, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 147B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement.—Single-type flowers arranged in rounded             hemispherical umbels arising from apical leaf axils; umbels             displayed above the foliar plane on strong peduncles;             flowers mostly flat and face upright to outward depending on             the position in the umbel.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Quantity of flowers.—About four umbels in flower at a time             per plant; each umbel with about 20 flower buds and open             flowers.         -   Flowering season.—Early flowering habit, plants begin             flowering about six to eight weeks after planting; in the             greenhouse, plants flower year-round; in the garden in             Pennsylvania, flowering is continuous from April until frost             in the autumn.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about three to             four days on the plant; umbels last about two to three weeks             on the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Umbel height.—About 2.8 cm.         -   Umbel diameter.—About 3.8 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 2.2 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 7 mm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.             Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to 187D.         -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five per flower arranged             in a single whorl; petals imbricate. Length, upper and lower             petals: About 1.2 cm. Width, upper and lower petals: About             7 mm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate.             Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 46B.             When opening, lower surface: Close to 53D. Fully opened,             upper surface: Close to 42A; venation, close to 42A; color             becoming closer to 44A with development. Fully opened, lower             surface: Close to 42C; venation, close to 42C; color             becoming closer to 44B with development.         -   Petaloids.—None observed.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five per flower arranged             in a single whorl. Length: About 6 mm. Width: About 2.5 mm.             Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous. Texture,             lower surface: Slightly pubescent, minute. Color, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 146B; towards the margins, close to             155B.         -   Peduncle (umbel stem).—Length: About 13.7 cm. Diameter:             About 2 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: About 30° from stem             axis. Texture: Pubescent, minute. Color: Close to 146B.         -   Pedicel (individual flower stem).—Length: About 1.1 cm.             Diameter: About 1 mm. Strength: Strong; flexible. Aspect:             Variable depending on position within the umbel. Texture:             Pubescent, minute. Color: Close to 146B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Quantity of stamens: About             five to ten per flower. Filament length: About 2 mm.             Filament color: Close to NN155A. Anther length: About             1.5 mm. Anther shape: Oval. Anther color: Close to 70D.             Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 164B.             Gynoecium: Quantity of pistils: One per flower. Pistil             length: About 5 mm. Stigma shape: Five-parted. Stigma color:             Close to 53A. Style length: About 1 mm. Style color: Close             to 53A. Ovary color: Close to 195C. Seeds: Seed development             has not been observed on plants of the new interspecific             Pelargonium. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new interspecific     Pelargonium have been observed to be resistant to Botrytis. Plants     of the new interspecific Pelargonium have not been observed to be     resistant to pests and other pathogens common to Pelargonium plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new interspecific Pelargonium have     been observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate rain,     wind, high light conditions and temperatures ranging from about     1° C. to about 35° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct interspecific Pelargonium plant named ‘G12120’ as illustrated and described. 